A cabinet minister was unable to say whether he would resign over no-deal Brexit five times.

Justice Secretary David Gauke said he “won’t support an irresponsible policy” during a tense interview on Sky News.

Presenter Stephen Dixon asked “If we do leave with no deal, which is a very real possibility now, at one minute past 11 on the 29th March, are you going to resign?”

Mr Gauke replied: “I don’t imagine that that will be the circumstances, I am fighting to deliver a deal and that’s what I want to do. The Government’s position is to deliver a deal so that we can leave on the 29th March.”

"I won't support an irresponsible policy."@skystephen asks @DavidGauke repeatedly if he will resign as Justice secretary if there is a no-deal #Brexit.

Despite being asked the question by Mr Dixon a further four times, the minister tried to dodge giving a clear yes or no answer.

Article 50 extension

Earlier on Saturday Mr Gauke said crashing out of the EU without a deal would have a “very adverse effect” on the UK’s economy.

The minister suggested he would back an extension to Article 50 if a deal between the UK and EU was not reached, and said he expected the Government to act “responsibly” if the current deadlock prevailed.

David Gauke suggested he could resign over no-deal Brexit [Getty Images]

I think the idea of leaving without a deal on the 29 March would be one that would have a very adverse effect

David Gauke

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he hoped it would be made clear in the next 10 days that the UK is in a position to leave with a deal on 29 March.

But he said: “If not, then we will have to, in my view, act responsibly and make sure that this country, the economy is protected, our security is protected and the integrity of the Union is protected. I have very grave concerns about the consequences of leaving without a deal.”

Mr Gauke added: “I think the idea of leaving without a deal on the 29 March would be one that would have a very adverse effect, to put it mildly, on our economy, on our security and on the integrity of the Union and I think my position on that is very clear.”

Responsible policy

He has previously suggested that Brexit might have to be delayed beyond the scheduled exit date.

Mr Gauke said he hoped a deal would have been reached by the next round of Commons votes on 27 February.

“I would hope and expect that the Government would act responsibly and consider the situation. I hope that by the time we get to that point that there will have been a deal reached with the European Union and the House of Commons.

“If not, I think my position is very clear and I think the consequences of leaving without a deal would not be in the national interest.”

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